Allan Savory

Infobox Scientist


image_width = 150px
name = Allan Savory
birth_date = September 15, 1935
birth_place = Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
death_date =
field = Ecology
work_institution = Holistic Management International,Africa Center for Holistic Management
alma_mater = University of Natal
known_for = "Holistic management concept Ecology
prizes = Banksia International Award 2003

(Clifford) Allan Redin Savory (born September 15, 1935) is a Zimbabwean biologist, farmer, soldier, exile, environmentalist and winner of the Banksia International Award 2003 [Banksia Environmental Foundation. [http://www.banksiafdn.com/index.php?page=67 "2003" AWARD] ] . He is the originator of the Holistic Management concept.

Political Involvement

Savory was elected into the Rhodesian Parliament representing Matobo constituency in the 1970 election. After resigning from the Rhodesian Front in protest over its racist policies and handling of the war,Savory reformed the defunct Rhodesia Party formerly led by Sir Roy Welensky. Subsequently all moderate white parties united in opposition to Ian Smith in what was known as the National Unifying Force (NUF)led by Savory. When Savory made a public statement that if he had been born a black Rhodesian he would have been a guerilla fighter and urged white Rhodesians to understand why he would feel this, Ian Smith denounced him as a traitor. Because the NUF party would not stand by Savory he relinquished leadership to Tim Gibbs, son of Rhodesia’s last Governor. Savory continued to fight Ian Smith and his policies, in particular opposing the Internal Settlement under Bishop Abel Muzorewa . Finally faced with detention by the Smith government Savory escaped and went into self imposed exile to continue his scientific work as there was no more he felt a white Rhodesian could do to speed an end to the civil war.. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/bringbac.htm WashingtonPost.com: Bring Back the Buffalo! ] ]

Holistic Management Concept

Savory had begun working on the ancient problem of land degradation (desertification) in 1955 in Northern Rhodesia where he served in the Colonial Service as Provincial Game Officer, Northern and Luapula Provinces. He subsequently continued this work in Southern Rhodesia first as a research officer in the Game Department, then subsequently as an independent scientists and international consultant. When in exile Savory worked from the Cayman Islands into the Americas introducing his new discoveries about both the cause of desertification and how to reverse it using increased numbers of livestock. This work he subsequently wrote up in the book "Holistic Management: A New Decision Making Framework" written with his wife Jody Butterfield and published by Island Press. 1989.He co-founded the Holistic Management International and the Africa Center for Holistic Management with his wife, Jody Butterfield, and went on to develop Holistic Management-a universal application to land management that can be applied no matter what the geographical location, economic situation or industry circumstance.

Today, thousands of families, corporations and businesses are using the framework developed by Savory to radically improve the quality of their lives and regenerate the resource base that sustains them. This includes conservation projects in the U.S., Africa,Canada and Australia, where large tracts of land are being transformed as desertification is reversed through Holistic Management using livestock and holistic planned grazing as the main agent of change.

ee also

*Savory brittleness scale
*Rhodesian general election, 1974

References

External links

* [http://www.holisticmanagement.org Holistic Management International website]
* [http://www.hrm-texas.org/ Holistic Resource Management of Texas]
* [http://agroinnovations.com/component/option,com_mojo/Itemid,182/p,42/lang,en/ Agroinnovations Podcast: Holistic Management with Allan Savory Part I]
* [http://agroinnovations.com/component/option,com_mojo/Itemid,182/p,43/lang,en/ Agroinnovations Podcast: Holistic Management with Allan Savory Part II]